New Apple feature will block cell networks from capturing precise location data

Apple is launching a new feature which allows some iPhone owners to block cellular networks from capturing their precise location, making it harder for law enforcement and hackers to pinpoint their whereabouts.

In recent years, law enforcement has increasingly subpoenaed cell carriers to find historic or real-time records for where phone owners have traveled.

The new feature will not prevent location sharing with emergency responders and does not limit the location data users choose to share with apps.

The feature will initially be available to owners of iPhone Air, iPhone 16e and iPad Pro (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular running iOS 26.3 or later.

“Cellular networks can determine your location based on which cell towers your device connects to,” Apple said in a Monday blog post. 

With the new feature turned on, cellular networks will be able to see “the neighborhood where your device is located, rather than a more precise location (such as a street address),” the blog post said. 

Although Apple didn’t give a reason for introducing the new feature, the company has positioned itself in recent years as a leader in consumer privacy and has pushed updates that give users greater control of their data.